Home ministry convenes high-level security meet

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Several top bureaucrats and police officials Friday gave the miss to a high-level security review meeting called here by the home ministry, which discussed a federal mechanism to counter terrorism. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta, Gujarat Chief Secretary Manjula Subramaniam, Gujarat Police Chief P.C. Pande and Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal gave a miss to the meeting called in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

According to sources, the officials failed to attend the meeting due to their involvement in the security preparedness for Independence Day Aug 15.

Those present discussed capacity building of the police forces, preventing spread of fake currency and the need for a federal mechanism to deal with terrorism and related crimes, like gun-running and drug trafficking. Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta convened the meeting.

The serial bombings in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad in the past three months, in which over 100 people were killed, also topped the meeting agenda.

Gupta said there was “general consensus” on setting up a federal agency. But no decision could be reached.

The states have been openly opposing the setting up of a federal agency on par with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), fearing that their powers will be curtailed as law and order is a state subject under the constitution.

“We have said there is no question of over-stepping their jurisdiction as law and order is a state subject,” Gupta told reporters.